MR. BASIL OWEN WOODD.

BASIL OWEN WOODD was born in the parish of St. Marylebone, July 14, 1787. He was a child of a remarkably amiable, affectionate, and generous disposition. He was also very tractable, and easily managed; had a great taste for little mechanical contrivances, and domestic amusements. His faculties of mind, however, I then considered as but moderate he was slow in comprehension, and extremely inattentive. But as he grew up, his mind expanded, his talents became respectable, and his comprehension, especially in the studies of his profession, unusually quick and retentive.

The great affection which I experienced from my children, the delight which I derived from their society, the dread which I had of the difficulties they might encounter if separated from a parent's attention, and an opinion that a domestic education was attended with the least danger, determined me, with the advice of friends whose judgment I highly respected, to bring them up at home-a determina

tion from which I have derived the most heartfelt satisfaction. Being fully persuaded, also, in my own mind that religious truth cannot be inculcated too early, and that children, almost in their infancy, acquire principles and habits from the influence of sympathy and association, it was my first object, in prayer and dependance on the grace of God, to endeavour to conciliate my young family to the knowledge and love of God their Saviour. Before they were three years of age they learnt short prayers, and were instructed in the duties which they owed to their Creator and Redeemer. Whenever any thing amiss occurred, the punishment was a temporary suspension of their parents' favour, till they became sensible of their error; they were then sent, for a few minutes, into a room by themselves, to kneel down and ask of God to pardon the offence, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and to grant them grace for the time to come. This method was extended to sinful words and tempers: and how trivial soever such records of domestic habits may appear to the reader, they were found most endearing and effectual in my family.

In order to implant in the tender minds of my beloved children an early knowledge of divine truth, I accustomed them regularly to attend our family worship, when they heard the word of God, and joined, as they grew up, in singing his praises. These have, indeed, proved some of the most

delightful seasons of family endearment I have ever known. They had all a taste for music. The dear departed youth, as he grew up, was our organist, and family prayer often proved a season of great enjoyment-an earnest of that day when, as I pray and hope, we shall all meet to join in praise for

evermore.

My little choir is now interrupted, my organist has taken his flight; he has resigned his instrument for a golden harp; but I bless God I still daily worship in spirit with him.

I was accustomed, once a week, at the time of family prayer, to examine my children upon the church catechism, with a brief explanation of it, and a summary of doctrine and duty in the words of Scripture, abridged from Bishop Gastrell's Christian Institutes. Afterwards, as they grew up, sections from the Bible were substituted, and also once a week they composed a short theme or essay on some religious subject; in addition to which, on Saturdays, I read and explained to them some suitable treatise on a religious subject, such as Robertson's System of Divinity, Scott's Essays, &c. The beneficial tendency of this early instruction appeared in its effects. The subject of this memoir, at the age of eight years, was no stranger to religious reflection. At that early period he took great delight, when alone, in reading that excellent little work, Bishop Kenn's Manual for Winchester Scholars.

His sincerity in these private devotions I can have no doubt of, because, though he knew the pleasure such a circumstance must have afforded me, yet he never mentioned it, nor did I know it till he was upon his death-bed. He then told me how very serious his mind had been at that period, and added, 'You borrowed that book of me, and forgot to return it, and I was so shy and reserved on the subject of religion, that I could not ask for it again.'

I mention this trivial incident as a hint to parents to furnish the chambers of their children with a Bible, and a few select and instructive religious books. They will probably read them oftener, and with more attention, when no eye sees them, than when in the presence and under the inspection of their parents.

I cannot recollect that my son outwardly discovered at this time any particular appearance of religious disposition. He was extremely volatile and playful. His chief companions were his sisters, nor did he seem to care for any other society. Such was the caution which I deemed expedient in the choice of his acquaintance, that at the age of ten he had never spent a night from home. About this time, however, a relation, from the best of motives, introduced him to a youth of his own age; and, as we supposed, of good disposition and behaviour.1 He was brought by this means into other

This youth proved a deceitful, unprincipled character; was afterwards an officer in the army, and died of a decline, in the depth of poverty and disease.

society; his amusements were gradually and imperceptibly removed from under the immediate eye of his parents; the purity of his mind was injured, his respect for his parents lessened, and his relish for domestic enjoyments much abated.

From this period, in the retrospect of a series of painful reflections, I date the beginning of my parental sorrows. Suitable acquaintance for one's children is an object of great importance, but attended with much difficulty. Society they must have; exercise they must have; boys cannot be altogether confined to the domestic circle; and there are scarcely any to be met with who will not injure each other. From the age of about fourteen they are the objects of increased anxiety, especially if designed for a profession. Those who are intended for trade are about this time put out apprentices, and if under the immediate eye and authority of their masters, may escape many snares and temptations. But, alas, here again, how very few masters pay the least attention to the moral and religious habits of their apprentices! The parent, who with a just sense of the importance of religion, contemplates the disposal of his child, recoils with anxiety and apprehension. The very sight of the house where his son is to be apprenticed, suggests fears of the bad example which he may receive from his companions, the temptations which may endanger his integrity, and various other influences